IndiGo to Launch Business Class This Year
IndiGo, India’s largest airline, will introduce a business class product by year-end, aiming to meet the rising demand for premium travel and expand its international presence.
India’s leading airline, IndiGo, is set to introduce a business class product by the end of the year. CEO Pieter Elbers announced this shift during an earnings call, emphasizing the growing demand for premium travel in India. This move aims to cater to corporate travelers on the busiest domestic routes.
IndiGo‘s commitment to growth is also reflected in its robust financial performance. For fiscal 2024, the airline reported its highest-ever total income of INR 712 billion ($8.5 billion), a 27% increase from the previous year. Additionally, IndiGo posted an annual net profit of INR 82 billion ($985 million), a significant turnaround from the net loss of INR 3 billion ($36 million) in 2023. This marks the first time in five years that the airline has been profitable across all four quarters of a financial year.
“We will be launching a tailor-made business product on the busiest routes and (business) routes of the country before the end of this year,” said Elbers. He promised more details about the routes and launch dates in August.
With India projected to become the world’s third-largest economy by 2027, the demand for diverse travel experiences is on the rise. IndiGo’s expansion into the business class segment is a strategic step to meet future demands while staying true to its core values.
Under Elbers’ leadership, IndiGo has expanded its international footprint, now serving 33 destinations, up from 26 in 2022. The airline recently added seven new international routes in Asia and Africa and entered codeshare agreements with British Airways and Malaysia Airlines, and extended a deal with Qantas.
IndiGo’s international ambitions are backed by significant aircraft orders, including its first order for widebody planes and a massive order for 500 narrowbody aircraft with Airbus. These acquisitions are part of IndiGo’s strategy to become a global aviation player and contribute to India’s vision of becoming a global aviation hub.
IndiGo hinted at upcoming improvements to its loyalty program, which currently includes a co-branded credit card system.